Education is the
key to all-round development of a country. In
the case of economic development, the
contribution of human resource development is as
high as 64 per cent, as found by World Bank.
Higher education plays a crucial part in
developing human resources for economic
development. According to World Bank, for
economic development of a country enrolment in
higher education should be at least 20 per cent
of the youth of the appropriate age group. In
countries like USA and Australia the enrolment
in higher education is about 80 per cent,
whereas in India it is still less than 15 per
cent, and in the northeastern region of the
country it is much less. It should not be less
than 50 per cent in our country, and our region
must not lag behind. This goal together with
that of quality education can be achieved only
by synergetic efforts of public-private
partnership.

In the northeastern region of the country, the
enrolment ratio in science and technology higher
education is far behind the rest of the country.
It is, therefore, heartening to note that in
recent years there have been vigorous efforts
not only by the state governments but also by a
number of philanthropic organizations to bridge
the gap. One of such leading organisations is
the ERD Foundation, Guwahati.

The ERD Foundation has established within a
short span of time three institutions of higher
education in science and technology. These are-

Central IT College

Regional College
of Higher Education

Regional Institute
of Science & Technology

University of
Science & Technology, Meghalaya

All the three
institutions have top class facilities for
pursuit of excellence in the various fields of
study offered by them. These institutions are in
a position to produce scientists and
professionals of high calibre comparable to the
best anywhere else.

I call upon the youth of the Northeast to come
forward to avail of these facilities, and I
assure their parents and guardians that they
need not send their children and wards to
outside the region for study programmes
available here.